H peters



(No Model.)

W. KNEEN.

LATCH.

Patented July 23, 1889.

% Invantur: WW 7 Witnesses:

N PETERS. Pimlwllkhogm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM KNEEN, OF BARROl/V-IN-FURNESS, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

LATC H SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,405, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed April 19, 1888. Serial No. 271,126. (No model.) Patented in England April 29,1887, No. 6,256.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM KNEEN, builder, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 66 Scott Street, Barrow-in- Furness, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain Improvements in Latches for Doors or the Like, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 6,256, dated 29th day of April, 1887,) of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention has for its object to provide a simple and eflicient latch for doors or the like which is not liable to get out of order and is readily operated.

According to my invention the latch-bolt projects by gravity from the edge of the door into its shot position, its motion being facilitated, if desired, by a wheel or runner or wheels or runners. This latch is raised by a catch the tail end of which is attached to or passes through the latch-bolt, so that by moving the said catch by means of a pusher, as hereinafter described, the bolt is withdrawn. This catch I may pivot to and underneath the loop-handle of the door or in the knob, so that when the hand is put through the loop or the handle is grasped the catch is operated to release it; and in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings, the

same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows in side elevation the latch constructed or arranged, according to my invention, to slide on an incline. Fig. 2is a plan, and Fig. 3 an end elevation, of the same latch. Fig. 4 shows the latch mounted on a center to operate in substantially the same manner-that is to say, to be projected from the edge of the door by gravity into its locked position.

The drawings show the catch-piece fitted with operating-knobs, from which the application of other forms of handles will also be readily understood.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the latch-bolt A is proyided with a runner a, which runs on an inclined plane B in the bottom of a slot made in the door for the bolt A. The inclined plane is shown as being formed by a piece secured to the edge of the door. Two holes I) b are provided in the inner end of the bolt A, in which holes catch-rods C 0 enterone from one side of the door and the other from the opposite side of the said door. Each of the catch-rods is centered at cl inside its respective knob D or D and is connected by a pin 6 on the catch-rod to apusher E, placed in the side of the handle, so that when the knob is grasped in the usual manner the pusher is pressed inward by the hand, thereby raising the rod 0 and withdrawing the latch from engagement with the door-post into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and the door is released. WVhen the knob is released,the pusher E returns to its normal position, and the bolt A is left at liberty to and will automatically run down the incline B into the position shown by full lines and secure the door if it be in its closed position. Onthe bolt A is a pin or projection 50, which serves as a stop by coming against the top of one of the sides formed on the incline B, so as to prevent the bolt projecting too far.

Instead of the bolt A being arranged to slide on an incline, as described, it may be arranged to turn upon a center pin a, as shown in Fig. 4, the pin a being the substitute for the runner a, Figs-1, 2, and 3. In both cases the bolt A is withdrawn by catch-rods C entering holes in the bolt end and operated to release the door in the manner hereinbefore described.

I claim The combination of a gravity-latch and catch-rods, each pivoted at one end within its respective knob and the inner ends passing through a slot in the latch, with pushers in the sides of the knobs connected to the catchrods, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM KNEEN.

NVitnesses:

ARTHUR E. NALDER, Solr. and Notary, Barrow-in-Furness.

ROBERT BELL,

80 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness. 

